Lawn sprinkler



July 16, 1946l H.- A. sHERRER 2,403,953

LAWN SPRINKLER Filed June 29, 1945 Suma/wm be/FR y/. Sav/mwa? Patented July 16, 1946 YVUNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LAWN SPRINKLER Harry A. Scherrer, San Diego, Calif. 'I Application June 29, 1945, Serial No. 602,321

2 Claims. (Cl. 299-61) This invention relates to lawn sprinklers, and the like, and has for one of its objects the production of a simple and efficient means for holding the plunger tube from revolving and at the same time allowingthe plunger tube to move freely up and down. Y

Another object of this invention is the production of a simple and efficient key which will seal the slot in the plunger tube of a lawn sprinkler so that dirt may not be washed into the milled slot while the sprinkler is in operation, the key being so constructed as to constitute a cleaning means for the slot.

Other objects andadvan'tages of the present invention will' appear throughout the following specification and claims.

' The present invention is an improvement upon my previous Patents No. 2,269,919 issued January 13, 1942, and No. 2,325,280, issued July 27, 1943.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the sprinkler;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view certain parts being shown in elevation;

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional View taken on line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary side elevational View of the sprinkler illustrating the key slot formed therein; and

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the locking key.

By referring to thedrawing, it Will be seen that I0 designates the hollow body of the sprinkler assembly which is provided with a, base I I having a depending threaded extension I2 for connection with the water supply main of a suitable type. The body II) is provided with an externally threaded upper end I3 over which is threaded a cap I4 having a tapering outer end I5 and a beveled ring-receiving seat I6.

The hollow body I0 is provided with a central bore I'I at its lower end, and the lower threaded end I8 of the hollow vertically extending overflow tube I9 is threaded into this bore Il, as shown in Figure 2. This overflow tube I9 is .provided with a flared outer end 20. A hollow plunger member 2| is mounted for longitudinal sliding movement within the body I0, and the plunger member 2I is provided with a scalloped ilange 22 at its lower end, the outer portions of the scallops 23 having sliding contact with the inner face of the hollow body I0 and the space between the scallops 23 providing passageways between the inner wall of the body and the ida-nge 22 to permit the passage of water from a point below the flange 23 to a point above the flange. The plunger 2| is provided with a longitudinally extending channel or key slot 24 upon one side thereof. The cap I4 is also provided with a channel`25 which registers with the slot or channel 24. A locking key 26 is anchored upon the cap I4 by means of a screw 2l which passes through the aperture `23 of the key 26 and holds ythe key in position. The key 26 is provided with an inwardly inclined shank 29 which lits in the channel 25 of the cap I4 to firmly hold the key in an anchored position. The key 2G is provided with a vertical extension 30 which extension 30 fits snugly in the key slot or channel 24 of .the `plunger member v2I to hold the plunger member ZI against rotation relative to the cap I4. The extension 30 is provided with a beveled terminal point 3l which is inclined from the outer face toward the inner face andtoward the outer end of the key to provide a scraping shoe to clean the slot 24 of any dirt or other accumulation which might become clogged in the slot 24.

The locking key 26 is inset within the channel 25 of the cap I4, and the extension 30 is inset within the key Slot or channel 24 of the plunger member 2l. In this way the key will be anchored against lateral pressure within the channel 25 and the extension 30 may freely slide within the key slot or channel 24, this extension being slidably mounted Within the slot 24. The key is arranged so as to extend flush with the outer face of the plunger 2| and flush with the outer beveled ring-receiving seat I6. The key 26 will prevent the plunger member 2I from revolving and at the same time allow the plunger member 2I to move freely up and down. This key will seal the slot in the plunger member 2I so that dirt which might be washed into the slot while the sprinkler is in operation cannot wash down through the slot in the plunger tube. The terminal point 3l which is wedge-shaped in formation fits Within the key slot or channel 24 and acts as a scraping shoe to cut out any dirt or other accumulation within the slot, thereby vdislodging any of such dirt as might be collected in the slot while in operation. As water is being expelled from the sprinkler body, the material scraped from the slot will be washed away.

As is shown in the drawing, the plunger 2l is provided with an annular flange 32 which may be fastened or soldered to the plunger in any desired manner, the ilange 32 being carried at a point just below the threaded portion 33 upon 3 which a suitable head may be attached in the same manner as shown in my previous patents. 'I'he flange 32 is provided with a beveled under face 34 along its lower edge and this beveled face 34 is adapted to fit snugly upon the beveled ringreceiving seat I6 to provide a seal therefor.

The important feature of the present invention is the arrangement of the locking key 26, its mounting and its operation in conjunction with the slot 24, thereby providing an elicient Scraping means to keep the key slot clean and free from clogging. This key will provide an eicient lock for the plunger member 2| and will provide a strong and durable means for holding the plunger member against rotation in vieW of the fact that a large bearing surface is provided for contact with the slot 24. While twisting the sprinkler head for the purpose of securing or removing the conventional head to and from the portion 33, there would be relatively small danger of damage to the smooth working surface of the sides of the milled slot 24. When the plunger member 2| is in its lowered position the beveled collar 32 attached to the plunger tube 2l ts down over shank portion 29 of the key 26 and rests on the beveled portion of the sprinkler cap lll, thereby sealing the entire device from any dirt or grit which might be washed down upon the sprinkler during a severe rain storm or during iloods.

It should be understood that certain detail changes in the device may be employed without departing from the spirit of the invention, so long as such changes fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. A sprinkler assembly of the class described comprising a hollow body adapted to be connected to a water supply, a hollow plunger slidable in said body adapted to support a sprinkler head, said plunger having a longitudinally extending key slot formed therein, the body having a portion provided with a channel formed therein and registering with the slot in said plunger, a key member secured toy the Abody and fitting snugly in said channel and lying ush with the outer face of the body, an extension carried by the key and fitting snugly in said slot in said plunger and lying ush with theouter face of the plunger, said extension holding said plunger against rotation relative to the body and providing a sealing and scraping means for said slot to prevent debris from passing longitudinally of said slot beyond l the key and also -providing means for scraping debris from said slot.

2. A sprinkler assembly of the class described comprising a hollow body adapted to be connected to a water supply, a hollow plunger slidable in said body adapted to support a sprinkler head, said plunger having a longitudinally extending key slot formed therein, the body having a portion provided with a channel formed therein and registering with the slot in said plunger, a, key member secured to the body and fitting snugly in said .channel and lying flush with the outer face of the body, an extension carried by the key and fitting snugly in said slot in said plunger and lying flush with the outer face of the plunger, said extension holding said plunger against rotation relative to the body and providing a sealing and scraping means for said slot to prevent debris from passing longitudinally of said slot beyond the key, said extension having a beveled outer extremity for providing means for scraping debris from said slot as said plunger moves longitudinally of the body.

HARRY A. SCHERRER. 

